The Spanish version of the Exhibition Environment, Conflict and Cooperation (ECC) that includes a specific module on South America is currently shown in Chile in cooperation with the NGO Fundación Terram. During 9-20 May, the Exhibition was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Chile. The launch event on 10 May was attended by over a hundred participants: foreign policy, defence and environmental decision makers from Chile, representatives of several Latin American countries, Germany and USA, as well as members of Chilean and international civil society.
The event drew attention to the fact that Chile is a country highly vulnerable to impacts of climate change both due to geographical factors and the economic dependence on extractive industries. The speeches also highlighted the role of diplomacy and international cooperation.
Eduardo Gálvez, Director of Foreign Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, offered an opening speech on national and international climate change policies, proclaiming “the beginning of the end of fossil fuel based economy” and highlighting the importance of shifting development on a sustainable path. The German Ambassador in Santiago de Chile Rolf Schulze underlined that a sustainable transition required structural changes around the world in order to face climate challenges. Waldemar Coutts, Director of Environment and Maritime Affairs at the MFA, noted the importance of supporting environmental democracy and climate justice. Flavia Liberona, Director of Fundación Terram, maintained that public policies in Chile urgently need to tackle the challenges of climate change and the extractivist economic model, integrating both local demands and international obligations.
From 31 May to 3 June 2016, the Exhibition was shown at the National Congress of Chile in Valparaíso, supported by Deputy Vlado Mirosevic and Senator Antonio Horvath.
The Exhibition highlights various impacts of environmental degradation and the growing scarcity of natural resources: as a threat to human security and economic and political stability, as a cause of tensions and conflicts between social and political groups, and as a cause of violent conflicts. It also explores ways and means for environmental cooperation to serve as an instrument of conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
A press release on the event at the MFA is available on the webpage of Fundación Terram. To read more about the Exhibition at the Congress, please visit the website of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies (both in Spanish).
Initiated in 2015, the French Ministry for the Armed Forces organized the first international conference “Defence and climate: what are the stakes?”. Since then, the Ministry has been constantly adapting and developing its capacity of anticipation.
On 25 January 2019, the UN Security Council held an open debate to discuss the security implications of climate-related disaster events. The meeting, initiated by the Dominican Republic, underscored the global nature of climate-related disasters. Most speakers highlighted the need for better climate risk management as an important contribution to safeguarding international peace and security. The debate marks the beginning of a year in which climate security ranks high on the UN’s agenda.
Today, Friday 25th January 2019, the UN Security Council will hold an open debate addressing the impacts of climate-related disasters on international peace and security (at 4pm CET and 10am EST). President Danilo Medina of the Dominican Republic will chair the meeting, which will also include the participation of several member states at ministerial level.
The unabated growth of natural resource consumption raises risks that we will outstrip the capacities of ecosystems and governance institutions. At the same time, to achieve important global goals related to poverty alleviation, public health, equity and economic development such as those embodied in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we will simultaneously need more resources and better management of natural resources everywhere.